Certified Lean Specialist (CLS) Certification

🏅 QUALITY PROGRESS CERTIFICATION BOARD

Certified Lean
Specialist

(CLS) — Level 4 Specialist

Specialist-level Lean certification — Globally Accessible, Optional Training Available, Digital Certificate Verification.
Validate your advanced Lean specialization through an independent certification examination.

Aligned with ASQ, IASSC, CSSC, CLSSC & ILSSI Body of Knowledge standards

1. Globally Accessible 2. Optional Training Available 3. Digital Certificate Verification 4. Exam-Based Certification: 120 Questions 5. 3-Hour Limit 6. Advanced Specialization 7. 75% Passing Score 8. Certification Fee: USD 100 9. FREE Unlimited Retakes

Apply for CLS → View FAQ ↓

Certification Overview

Certified Lean Specialist (CLS)

Level 4 — Specialist. A rigorous certification and assessment of advanced Lean specialization. No training course required.

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1. SMED & TPM

Single-Minute Exchange of Die, Total Productive Maintenance

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2. Poka-Yoke & Jidoka

Error proofing, autonomation, and built-in quality

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3. A3 Thinking & Gemba

A3 problem-solving, Gemba walks, Genchi Genbutsu

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4. Advanced Kaizen

Rapid improvement, Hoshin Kanri, systems thinking

Certification: This is a certification pathway. Optional Training Available. If you already possess advanced Lean specialization knowledge, Apply for Certification, pass the exam, and earn your CLS credential from the Quality Progress Certification Board — an independent certification body like ASQ and CSSC.

Eligibility

CLS Eligibility Requirements

Direct Entry Available — Advanced Specialization. No mandatory prerequisites.

1️⃣

Direct Entry Available

No prior certification required. Open to all backgrounds.

2️⃣

Advanced Specialization

Ideal for professionals specializing in Lean tools and methodologies.

3️⃣

No Mandatory Training

Self-study pathway. Prepare using any resources aligned with the BoK.

4️⃣

Exam-Based Assessment

Competency is assessed solely through the certification examination.

5️⃣

Global Access

Available to candidates worldwide. Online proctored exam from anywhere.

6️⃣

Lifetime Validity

Certificate valid for life. No renewal fees, no recertification required.

Ready to Get Certified?

The CLS is designed for professionals who want to validate their advanced Lean specialization. Simply:

1. Review the Body of Knowledge below
2. Register and pay the certification fee (USD 100)
3. Take the secure online proctored exam (120 questions, 3 hours)
4. Score 75% or higher and receive your CLS certificate

No mandatory training. Direct entry available. Just demonstrate your knowledge through the exam.

Exam Syllabus

CLS Body of Knowledge

12 Knowledge Areas | 120 Questions | 3 Hours | 75% Passing Score

1SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die)8%

+

1. SMED principles and methodology
2. Separating internal and external setup activities
3. Converting internal setup to external setup
4. Streamlining internal setup operations
5. Standardizing setup procedures
6. SMED implementation case studies

2TPM (Total Productive Maintenance)8%

+

1. TPM philosophy and 8 pillars
2. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
3. Autonomous maintenance and operator care
4. Planned and predictive maintenance
5. Equipment improvement and reliability
6. Building a TPM culture

3Poka-Yoke (Error Proofing)8%

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1. Poka-Yoke principles and philosophy
2. Types of errors: human and system
3. Detection vs. prevention methods
4. Contact, fixed-value, and motion-step methods
5. Designing error-proofing solutions
6. Implementation and sustainability

4Jidoka (Autonomation)8%

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1. Jidoka: automation with a human touch
2. Andon systems and visual alerts
3. Stop-and-fix culture
4. Built-in quality at the source
5. Separating human work from machine work
6. Jidoka in service and administrative processes

5A3 Thinking & Problem Solving8%

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1. A3 thinking and the A3 report structure
2. Left side: problem definition and analysis
3. Right side: countermeasures and action plans
4. PDCA integration in A3
5. Facilitating A3 discussions
6. Coaching with A3 thinking

6Gemba & Genchi Genbutsu8%

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1. Gemba: the real place where value is created
2. Genchi Genbutsu: go and see for yourself
3. Gemba walks: purpose and best practices
4. Observation and data collection at Gemba
5. Engaging frontline employees
6. Daily Gemba management

7Advanced Kaizen & Rapid Improvement8%

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1. Kaizen event planning and execution
2. Rapid improvement workshops
3. Cross-functional kaizen teams
4. Sustaining kaizen results
5. Kaizen in office and service environments
6. Daily kaizen vs. breakthrough kaizen

8Lean Leadership & Coaching8%

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1. Lean leadership behaviors and habits
2. Coaching problem-solving at Gemba
3. Developing Lean thinking in teams
4. Leader standard work
5. Building Lean capability
6. Lean communication strategies

9Hoshin Kanri (Policy Deployment)8%

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1. Hoshin Kanri: strategic deployment of goals
2. Catchball process for alignment
3. X-matrix planning tool
4. Annual and quarterly planning cycles
5. Linking strategy to daily management
6. Review and adjustment processes

10Lean Systems Thinking8%

+

1. Systems thinking principles
2. Understanding interconnections and feedback loops
3. Value stream thinking across the enterprise
4. Avoiding sub-optimization
5. Whole-system improvement strategies
6. Lean in complex adaptive systems

11Lean Innovation & R&D8%

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1. Lean product development principles
2. Set-based concurrent engineering
3. Knowledge creation and reuse
4. Agile and Lean integration
5. Rapid prototyping and iteration
6. Innovation value stream mapping

12Lean Assessment & Audit12%

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1. Lean maturity models and assessment tools
2. Conducting Lean audits
3. Gap analysis and improvement planning
4. Benchmarking Lean performance
5. Measuring Lean transformation success
6. Continuous assessment and feedback

Certification Details

CLS Exam Specifications

Everything you need to know about the Certified Lean Specialist exam

1️⃣

120 Questions

Multiple-choice and case analysis across all 12 knowledge areas

2️⃣

3 Hours

180 minutes. Online proctored with identity verification

3️⃣

75% to Pass

Score 90 out of 120 or higher to pass

4️⃣

Secure Proctoring

Identity verification, question randomization, browser lockdown

5️⃣

FREE Retakes $0

Unlimited retakes within 6 months. Completely FREE.

6️⃣

Digital Certificate

Issued by Quality Progress Certification Board. Online verification.

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Quality Progress Certification Board

Your CLS credential is officially issued and verified by the Quality Progress Certification Board — an independent, globally recognized certification body, like ASQ and CSSC. This represents verified expertise, not just course completion.

Certification Fee

CLS Certification Fee

Transparent pricing — pay for the certification and exam

$100

Certified Lean Specialist Exam

1. Globally Accessible
2. Optional Training Available
3. Digital Certificate Verification
4. Exam-Based Certification: 120-Question Online Proctored Exam
5. Digital Certificate (PDF) with Online Verification
6. FREE Unlimited Retakes (within 6 months) $0
7. Issued by Quality Progress Certification Board
8. Lifetime Certificate Validity — No Renewal Fees
9. Listing in Certified Professionals Directory
10. Aligned with ASQ, IASSC, CSSC, CLSSC, ILSSI Body of Knowledge

Apply for CLS - $100

Secure Payment | Exam Link Within 24 Hours | FREE Retakes

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about CLS certification

Is there any prerequisite for CLS? +

No. CLS offers Direct Entry. No prior certification, work experience, or training is required. Open to all backgrounds.

Is training provided? +

No. This is certification. The Body of Knowledge above serves as your syllabus for self-study. You prepare independently using any resources you choose.

How difficult is the CLS exam? +

Advanced specialist level. Tests SMED, TPM, Poka-Yoke, Jidoka, A3 thinking, Gemba, advanced Kaizen, Hoshin Kanri, systems thinking, innovation, and Lean assessment. Requires deep Lean knowledge.

What if I fail the exam? +

You get FREE unlimited retakes within 6 months. A 14-day cooling-off period applies between attempts. No additional fee is charged.

Who issues the CLS certificate? +

Certificates are issued by the Quality Progress Certification Board — an independent body, ensuring impartiality and global credibility.

Can I upgrade to CLC later? +

Yes. CLS is Level 4. You can progress to CLC (Level 5) — the pinnacle certification — as you gain experience and knowledge.

Certification

Apply for CLS Certification

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Registration Received!

Thank you for registering for CLS with Quality Progress.

We will contact you within 24 hours via email with payment instructions and exam scheduling details.

Email: support@qualityprogressbd.com
WhatsApp: 1954-577058

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone / WhatsApp (Must Add Country Code First)*

What is your area of Lean specialization? * -- Select -- SMED / TPM Poka-Yoke / Jidoka A3 Thinking / Problem Solving Hoshin Kanri / Strategy Deployment Lean Systems Thinking Multiple areas Other

Do you have advanced Lean implementation experience? * -- Select -- Yes, I have led advanced Lean implementations Yes, I have applied advanced Lean tools Yes, I have self-studied advanced Lean No, I am new to advanced Lean

Are you ready to take the exam? * -- Select -- Yes, I am ready to schedule my exam No, I need time to prepare first I would like more information before registering

Additional Message

Email: support@qualityprogressbd.com · WhatsApp: 1954-577058